Angel Correa's Brace Spurs Sensational Atletico Madrid Comeback

 Angel Correa's Brace Spurs Sensational Atletico Madrid Comeback

Angel Correa of Atletico Madrid during the LaLiga EA Sports match between Atletico Madrid v Cadiz FC at the Civitas Metropolitano Stadium on October 1, 2023 in Madrid Spain (Image-Getty)

Argentine forward Angel Correa showcased his prowess by scoring twice to lead Atletico Madrid in a remarkable recovery from a two-goal deficit, ultimately defeating Cadiz 3-2 in front of their home crowd on Sunday. This triumph marked Atletico's third consecutive LaLiga victory.

Despite having a game in hand, Atletico Madrid moved up to fourth place in the league standings, accumulating 16 points and trailing the leaders, Real Madrid, by five points.

The match began with Atletico displaying dominance, but Cadiz stunned their hosts by taking the lead in the 12th minute. Chris Ramos delivered a precise cross from the right flank, finding left-back Lucas Pires in the six-yard box, who calmly slotted the ball home from close range.

Cadiz extended their lead when Roger Marti executed a lobbed shot in the 27th minute, capitalizing on goalkeeper Jeremias Ledesma's exceptional long clearance. However, Atletico's Angel Correa swiftly responded, pulling one back with a header from the center of the box just five minutes later.

After halftime, Nahuel Molina leveled the score with a powerful shot that deflected off a defender. It was Angel Correa who once again became the hero, scoring after a rapid breakaway in the 65th minute, securing the victory for Diego Simeone's side.

Angel Correa's contribution was particularly noteworthy as he had recently recovered from an injury sustained during last week's derby win over Real Madrid, causing him to miss Thursday's win against Osasuna.

Reflecting on his performance, Correa stated, "I had a very strong impact on my knee. I sprained it and couldn't play in the previous game. With Alvaro (Morata) being sent off, (Antoine) Griezmann was alone up front, I wanted to push myself with a bit of pain to help the team, and it turned out well. We knew this was a difficult match, having won the other two games; we wanted to finish the week on a high note with a win in front of our fans."

Coach Simeone expressed his satisfaction with the comeback, saying, "The comeback makes me very happy because it wasn't easy after the two goals. With tranquillity, the team found the way to win."

Atletico Madrid's next challenge will be hosting Dutch champions Feyenoord in the Champions League on Wednesday. Simeone emphasized the importance of rest and preparation, stating, "Now we are thinking about resting. We have little time for the Champions League, to regain strength and energy for a tough and difficult competition."